‘Historic’ fixture as Foxes send team to try Barwell’s new pitch

LEICESTER City will help Barwell take to their new pitch for the first time this summer in a pre-season friendly.

City are sending a development squad outfit to the UK Flooring Direct Stadium on Tuesday, July 12 for what Barwell describe as a “historic” fixture.

It is something of a fresh start for Barwell, who not only have a new pitch, but a new manager too.

Ian King was appointed in May after Guy Hadland stepped down.

They will hope that brings better fortunes in the Southern Football League Premier Division Central this term after Barwell finished one place outside the relegation zone last season.

Divisional rivals Coalville Town, the other county side in the seventh tier, lost out in the playoffs, just one win away from making it to the National League set-up.

For City’s development squad, they will see the Premier League 2 competition revert to Under-21s this term, although it is unlikely to cause problems for Ben Petty and his prospects, with the average age of the side comfortably in the teens.

They finished eighth of 14 clubs last term, but were only four points off third in what was a very tight division. This year, they should have plenty of players stepping up from the Under-18s who had a very successful campaign, reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup before losing to eventual winners Manchester United, as well as getting to the semi-finals of the Premier League Cup and pushing for the league title too before falling short.

The fixture at Barwell will kick-off at 7.30pm, and tickets are £10 on the gate at Kirkby Road.